That India is a diverse culture comprised of many fascinating rituals and traditions is a well-known fact. And every time you think you’ve explored all or much of the diverse traditions, another fascinating ritual comes to light. This time it is the one practised in Sadu Mata ni Pol, a colony in old Ahmedabad. On the Ashtami or the eighth day of Navratri, men adorned in women’s clothes take to the festivities and play garba. This has been a tradition for more than 200 years now and its origins are as fascinating as the ritual itself.
In An Old Ahmedabad Colony, Men Dress Up As Women To Play Garba
Pols are old hosing colonies that populate the heritage city of Ahmedabad. There are a whopping 184 pols in Ahmedabad but one of them has a tradition that makes it stand quite apart from the rest. This is Sadu Mata ni Pol.
Sadu Mata ni Pol is majorly populated by the Barod community. This colony houses more than 1,000 residents and during Ashtami, it gets even more crowded as people from far and wide flock to this colony to get a glimpse of the marvel that unfolds. Every year, men from 12 to 15 families dress up in women’s clothing and perform garba.
They pay an homage to the local deity, Sadu Mata. This dance is not just a celebratory act but also a penitent one. This ritual is performed to appease the goddess and lift the curse that she once put on the community.
The Legend Behind This Unique Tradition That Is 200 Years Old
The story begins 200 years ago. The state was under Mughal rule. One of the rulers heard about the beauty of Saduben and wanted to have her as his concubine. She was taken forcefully and unfortunately, the men of the Barod community did little to stop it from happening.
She therefore cursed the community before committing sati. Since then, to appease the enraged deity, the men wear women’s clothes and dance.
Have you ever heard of such a unique tradition? Have you or someone you know ever participated in this ritual? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @DeshGujarat and @airnewsalerts/X (Formerly, Twitter)
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.